Geras
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For the municipality in Austria, see Geras, Lower Austria
In Greek mythology, Geras (Greek Γῆρας) was the god of old age.
According to Hesiod (Theogony, 225) he was a son of Nyx. Hyginus (Preface) adds that his father was Erebus. He was depicted as a tiny shrivelled up old man. Geras' opposite was Hebe the goddess of youth. His Roman equivalent was Senectus. He is known primarily from vase depictions that show him with the hero Heracles; unfortunately, the mythic story that inspired these depictions has been entirely lost.
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Geras also means "plunder" or "war prize" in Greek. It was considered a value; the more Geras a man assumed, the more Kleos (fame) and Arete (excellence and courage) he was considered to have.
